Two drown in U.P.

July 18, 2013

IRON MOUNTAIN - Authorities are investigating two apparent drownings in the Upper Peninsula.

A 14-year-old Escanaba teen drowned at Ludington Park beach in Escanaba on Wednesday.

The teen was swimming with a friend, according to Escanaba Public Safety Department officials. He was reported missing from the northeast end of the beach at 5:22 p.m.

After nearly four hours of searching, his body was located off the northeast area of the beach around 9:15 p.m.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter was deployed to the scene to assist with the search.

The Escanaba Public Safety Department was assisted by Delta County Sheriff's Office, Delta County Search and Rescue, Delta County Dive Team, Gladstone Public Safety, Michigan State Police, Michigan DNR, Victims Services, and U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The boy's family has been notified, and the Ludington Park beach has been reopened. His name has not been released.

No other information is being released at this time.

Elsewhere, a 33-year-old Hancock man was found dead in the Portage Canal on Tuesday.

According to the Hancock Police Department, Jason Mikkola was discovered in the canal, near a family owned boat house. He was last seen on Monday at around 1 a.m.

"We presume he had fallen while mooring his boat at the boathouse," said Hancock Police Chief Mike Beaudoin.

Mikkola had last been seen about 1 a.m. Monday.

Beaudoin said he is waiting for a report from the Houghton County medical examiner.

His body was discovered at 6:35 p.m. on Tuesday near the boat house.

Authorities say he may have fallen off the boat he was putting back into the boat house.